Houghton first baseman Josie Switzer connects with a pitch during a game Saturday at the Spring Swing tournament at the Superior Dome in Marquette. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

MARQUETTE — Over last weekend, the high school softball season kicked off with the Spring Swing tournament at the Superior Dome in Marquette. Both the Houghton Gremlins and the Jeffers Jets struggled to string runs together in the tournament, and neither team came away with a win.

Houghton opened with a 12-0 loss to Gladstone Saturday.

Catcher Lexi Burns, hitting in the cleanup spot, went 1-for-2 at the plate. Right fielder Aanika Schlief also went 1-for-2.

Centerfielder Emmy Pietila and third baseman Karly Mattson drew walks.

Romy Mattson pitched four innings, giving up 10 earned runs on nine hits and walking 11, but she also struck out seven.

In the nightcap against Sault Ste. Marie, Houghton tied things up at 6-6 in the top of the fifth, only to see the Blue Devils score three runs in the bottom of the fifth to come away with a 9-6 win.

In the top of the fifth, Romi Mattson doubled past third base with two outs to start the rally. She stole third with Schlief at the plate, and then scored on a wild pitch. Schlief then doubled to right field.

Burns hit a home run to center field three pitches later to tie things at 6-6.

Romi Mattson went 2-for-4. Burns went 2-for-3 with two RBI on the home run. Schlief and left fielder Delaney Salmi both went 1-for-3 each. Salmi also knocked in a pair of runs.

Pitcher Josie Switzer went the distance in the circle, giving up 20 hits, and walking one.

Sunday, the Gremlins surrendered eight runs in the first inning and lost to Menominee, 9-1.

Houghton scored their lone run in the top of the sixth inning. First baseman Thora Bier got things started by leading off with a double to center field. Right fielder Karis VonDoloski followed with a double to center field, which brought Bier home.

VonDoloski was the lone Gremlins hitter to get multiple hits, going 2-for-3. Second baseman Vera Pietila, Romi Mattson, Bier, and Karly Mattson all had one hit each.

Switzer gave up 12 hits in six innings, walked one, and struck out six.

The Jets opened their weekend Saturday with a 16-0 loss to Marquette.

Shortstop Meg Ruohonen and left fielder Jordan Holombo both went 1-for-1 in the game. Ruohonen also drew a walk.

Evelyn Sturos took the loss in the circle, giving up 11 hits and six walks, while striking out two.

In their first game Sunday, the Jets trailed 7-2 after two innings, and added three runs later, but ultimately fell, 16-5, to Bark River-Harris.

Down 7-0 in the bottom of the second inning, the Jets were looking for a spark and got it from leadoff batter Pearl Raffaelli, who singled to left field. Two batters later, Holombo walked, putting runners on the corners after Raffaelli stole second and then stole third during the at bat. First baseman KayDee Archambeau singled to left field to bring Raffaelli home. Right fielder Savannah Hendrickson grounded out next, but Holombo scored on the play.

The Jets added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Sturos singled with one out to start the rally. Holombo reached on a bunt. Archambeau then singled to center field to bring both runners home, and Jeffers trailed 11-4 at that point.

Ruohonen led off the fifth with a double to left field. Third baseman Svea Johnson followed with a single to center field, which moved Ruohonen to third. Raffaelli, who was playing second base, then singled to second, which scored Ruohonen.

Raffaelli, Holombo, and Archambeau all went 2-for-3 in the game. Center fielder Kylee Andrews, Ruohonen, Johnson, and Sturos all had one hit each.

Sturos gave up nine hits and seven walks, but she struck out five.

In the final game Sunday, the Jets lost to the Escanaba Eskymos JV team.

Raffaelli went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Johnson, and Holombo had a hit each. Johnson drew two walks, while Archambeau earned one.

Andrews pitched 2 1/3 innings, giving up 12 hits and walking seven.

Jeffers coach Wes Frahm addresses his infield during a break in the action during a game in the Spring Swing tournament at the Superior Dome in Marquette. Also pictured are Svea Johnson (2), Savannah Hendrickson (3), Pearl Raffaelli (4), and Meg Ruhonen (15). (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)